The endorsement immediately rocketed Miller's profile throughout the state, as did an endorsement from the Tea Party Express which poured hundreds of thousands of dollars into the race. Palin's husband Todd also penned a fundraising letter and the former Alaska governor herself recorded a robo-call on Miller's behalf.

As of Wednesday morning, Miller holds a slim 1,960 vote lead of Murkowski, according to an unofficial vote tally by the Associated Press with 98 percent of precincts reporting, with thousands of absentee ballots yet to be counted.

The former Alaska governor also backed Arizona Sen. John McCain – the former presidential candidate who rocketed Palin to stardom in 2008 when he selected her as his running mate. Though members of the Tea Party movement lined up against the longtime Arizona senator, Palin stayed loyal to McCain and appeared at a campaign event with him in March.

Addressing long-standing concern among conservatives McCain is too centrist, Palin said the Arizona senator is driven by "common sense conservative principles" and touted his steadfast opposition to the Obama administration.

McCain beat former Rep. J.D. Hayworth Tuesday by more than 30 points – a definitive victory but one that also carried a $20 million price tag.

In the race for Florida attorney general, Palin backed Pam Bondi, a Tampa prosecutor who faced the better-known Lt. Gov. Jeff Kottkamp for the job.

Palin's endorsement of Bondi came only one week ago and even surprised Bondi herself, who had no advance notice the former Alaska governor would take to her Facebook page to back the campaign.

According to the Miami Herald, Bondi met Palin at a Susan B. Anthony breakfast in Washington a few months ago. Bondi told the paper the two talked about Down Syndrome, which affects Palin's son as well as a niece of Bondi's.

Bondi quickly promoted the endorsement and had Palin record a robo-call on her behalf over the weekend.

She beat Kottkamp by 5 points and a third candidate, Holly Benson, by 9 points.

soundoff(119 Responses)

Boy, those tea party folks sure know how to mobilize. They don't know anything else, but they know how to mobilize.

August 25, 2010 11:11 am at 11:11 am |

moose patty palin

Who cares what the half-governor managed to do with the latest elections. She's still lost about 10 out of 13. Just a quitter riding the wave of the tea party. She also backed Dr. Laura's racist rant.

August 25, 2010 11:13 am at 11:13 am |

Carol

Comon guys! If you endorse 47 people like Palin has, chances are someone will win despite her frivolouis endorsements. I'll bet my next SS check that she does not know these people personallly.

August 25, 2010 11:17 am at 11:17 am |

me

Palin's choices winning are hardly a win for Palin. She notoriously picks the conservative in the lead just a few days before the slated voting day. And selecting McCain is just the payback she owed him for making her such a star! Common sense conservative principles, my eye. She couldn't define that if you asked her to.

August 25, 2010 11:17 am at 11:17 am |

McCrae

Palin is not an electable candidate but from now through the November elections her views are going to be reflected in the candidates elected. The days of Obama having unharnessed power to further harm our country will be over.

August 25, 2010 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

Steve

Please, voters.

Even if you have to hold your nose when you pull the lever, you simply must vote this democratic mob out of there.

We can't give O'Bama even a smell of endorsement. His policies will take us to oblivion as a nation.

August 25, 2010 11:18 am at 11:18 am |

anagram_kid

And yet she will never run for any office ever again... that is all that matters. She may be the loudest parent at the kid's hockey game, but that is all she will ever be – a spectator.

August 25, 2010 11:19 am at 11:19 am |

cel

OK, so this makes Palin right up there with GOD ? She just found religion during a visit to Billy Graham in NC and now she's GOD ?

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA !! Go on, buy into that stuff if you wish. The Conservatives are the establishment and I am antiestablishment 100 %

August 25, 2010 11:19 am at 11:19 am |

Chris

Now if Sarah can just answer the questions asked in an interview she will have it made.

August 25, 2010 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

Go Independent!

So, the Alaskan Quitter and Wildlife Assassin stumps for Repubs who might or might not win an election–WHO CARES?

August 25, 2010 11:20 am at 11:20 am |

Melissa

OMG, the people in this country are stupid if that twit it a big winner or anything.

Maybe the candidates won off of their own merit and background and not because some nit wit endorsed them!

August 25, 2010 11:24 am at 11:24 am |

Liberals are poison

Dear libs,
Keep slandering Palin and continue to watch her popularity rise. She will never get the endorsement of the no make-up wearing gang of nags. The same one's who don't shave their legs and armpits.
And those that would rather have an abortion than practice safe sex.
Conservative women are so much more attractive and well spoken than liberal women who screech, whine, and complain. Maybe they should take some lessons from conservative women so they won't be so nasty and could possibly find a man to share their lives with. Unless they are those that wear flannel shirts and drive mini pick-up trucks and like "boi's."

August 25, 2010 11:25 am at 11:25 am |

Connie

PUH-LEEZE!!!!!!!!
Palin is no winner, she is a quitter!!!
How is this not about the politicians who won?!

August 25, 2010 11:25 am at 11:25 am |

felipe

You may not like her, but you just may have to start respecting her credibility and political clout. I never used to like her but she does live by her principles and convictions...it's impressive. However, she is no Hillary Clinton.

August 25, 2010 11:26 am at 11:26 am |

Scott715

Still sounds like Palin is really plugging for Palin if one candidate didn't even have any idea she was being endorsed. Just another way for Palin to get her name in front of people again. And what about her husband endorsing people. Does an endorsement from the potential "First Dude" mean anything? Just more showboating by someone with nothing to say.

August 25, 2010 11:28 am at 11:28 am |

Sebastian

God help us if this idiot were to ever become POTUS. She and her reactionary followers would strip the constitution and convert us from democracy to theocracy. Those who are not WASP will be considered enemies of the state and there will be no future USA as we have come to know it. Then too, the picture may not even be that rosy...